Ward says Golden Tigers exceeded expectations
By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
The 2006 baseball season didn't culminate in a playoff berth for Russellville, but the Golden Tigers' other accomplishments were not lost on coach David Ward.
"If you had told me before the season started that we were going to win 29 games, I would have said you were crazy," said Ward, whose club finished 29-14 and set the school record for wins in his first season as head coach. "That's because when I sat down to make out our schedule, I tried to find as many tough opponents as I could. We played a very difficult schedule."
Russellville's first season under Ward was highlighted by a mid-season stretch that saw the Golden Tigers rip off 18 wins in 20 games, running their record to 27-6 and lifting them into the ASWA Top 10 in Class 5A.
The young team stumbled toward season's end, losing eight of their last 10 games and watching their playoff hopes slip away. All eight of those losses came against Area 16 rivals and perennial state powers Muscle Shoals and Hartselle.
"I'm disappointed we didn't make the playoffs, but it's hard to compete in an area as tough as ours," Ward said. "I never felt like we were out of any of those games against Muscle Shoals and Hartselle. We out-hit Muscle Shoals in one game and got beat 2-0 because of two errors. The next day we go to Hartselle and throw a three-hitter, but we get beat because we walk nine guys.
"It's the little things like those that kept us from breaking through. Our guys are still learning how to win, and a lot of that is because of our youth."
Another factor in Russellville's late-season slide was an injury to leadoff man and centerfielder Caleb Mitchell, who missed the final 12 games of the year.
"I knew we would miss Caleb, but it ended up being worse than I thought," Ward said. "The guys who filled in for him did a great job, but it was almost impossible to replace what he brought to the table. He was a guy, with his speed, who was a threat to score every time he got on base. We lost some close games at the end of the year, and Caleb is a guy who can practically win games for you by himself when he's playing well."
Mitchell is expected to be fully healthy for next season, which means Russellville's entire lineup will return intact.
"We've got everybody coming back, and I'm looking forward to seeing some of our younger guys step up and show what they can do," Ward said. "If we can win 29 games this season, I don't see any reason why we can't win 35 next year. We want to make the playoffs and advance, and then we want to build on that for the future.
"We've got a good nucleus of kids who like to work hard, and that's all I can ask for."
